Barbara Modanlou looks at her award winning creation at the OC Fair. She created the romper garment for her grandson from a suit her husband bought in Italy in 1963.

For her mosaic creation of Disneyland, Roe Weatherspoon was awarded Division Winner and Best of Show ribbons at the OC Fair.

Roe Weatherspoon spent three years, 1,200 hours and $3,000 on a mosaic table that features a detailed map of Disneyland with pins representing each and every attraction.

A mickey Mouse watch represents a clock shop on Main Street, Disneyland in Roe Weatherspoon's mosaic creation which was awarded Division Winner and Best of Show ribbons at the OC Fair.

A train runs around the perimeter of Disneyland in Roe Weatherspoon's mosaic creation which was awarded Division Winner and Best of Show ribbons at the OC Fair.

Roe Weatherspoon of Fullerton, shows off her mosaic table that features a detailed map of Disneyland with pins representing each and every attraction. Her creation which took her three years, 1,200 hours and $3,000 worth of material to complete won best of show in the glass and mosaic category. A train runs around the perimeter.

Electric mouse shaped lights adorn the mosaic Main Street on Roe Weatherspoon's creation which was awarded Division Winner and Best of Show ribbons at the OC Fair.

Roe Weatherspoon of Fullerton, adjusts the lights on her mosaic table that features a detailed map of Disneyland with pins representing each and every attraction. Her creation which took her three years, 1,200 hours and $3,000 worth of material to complete won best of show in the glass and mosaic category.

A family snapshot shows Dr. Houchang Modanlou wearing the Italian suit he purchased in about 1963. His wife Barbara Modanlou made a romper for her just born grandson with her husband's more than 40-year-old suit that he had made in Italy when he was a student there.

Using the original fabric and buttons, Barbara Modanlou retained the label from Rome in creating this romper suit from a 1963 Italian suit.

Using the original fabric and buttons, Barbara Modanlou downsized pockets in creating this romper suit from a 1963 Italian suit.

Barbara Modanlou shows a photo of her eleven week grandson Landon for whom she created the romper garment from a suit her husband bought in Italy in 1963.

Barbara Modanlou shows a photo of her eleven week grandson Landon with her award winning creation at the OC Fair. She created the romper garment from a suit her husband bought in Italy in 1963.

Barbara Modanlou shows her award winning creation at the OC Fair. She created the romper garment for her eleven week grandson Landon from a suit her husband bought in Italy in 1963.

Attendance was expected to be up at The OC Fair. Visitors are shown entering the fair and waiting in line in this August 4, 2010 photo. fair attendance

COSTA MESA – Like well-brewed, aromatic coffee, the best ideas are those that have been percolating for a while.

Three women, who won praise and rewards for their creative ideas, say that it all started out small and somewhat vague – but ended up as something beautiful that they will treasure forever.

Barbara Modanlou sewed a romper for her just-born grandson – from her husband’s 50-year-old suit and dress shirt. Roe Weatherspoon, a 10-year Disneyland employee, created a mosaic table with a detailed map of her favorite amusement park with pins denoting each and every Disneyland attraction. And Brindel Rothspan wove a purse from colored strings around daily editions of The Orange County Register.

The baby’s little Italian suit

Modanlou, a Newport Coast resident, said her idea began as a thought when her daughter-in-law became pregnant.

“I wanted to make something for my grandchild, something that would look nice and at the same time have a special memory,” she said.

That’s when she set her eyes on her husband’s Italian suit, which had remained closeted since 1963. Her husband, Dr. Houchang Modanlou, had the suit made as a young student in Italy.

“For years, he did not want to get rid of it,” she said. Finally, about a year ago, he was ready to say his goodbyes to his beloved suit.

Modanlou worked to transform it into a romper for her new grandson.

“My daughter-in-law loved it,” she said. And it won second place in the recycled clothes category at the Orange County Fair.

Dreaming about Disneyland

Roe Weatherspoon’s Disney mosaic table was an accident, which turned into an obsession. It started out with a simple mesh table she bought at The Container Store.

“I thought it might be nice to make a mosaic although at the time I knew nothing about how to make a mosaic,” the Fullerton resident said.

But Weatherspoon knew she wanted to make a map of the Disneyland Resort, her employer and favorite place on earth. So she started using pins to represent the different attractions in the park.

But soon she realized she didn’t have all the pins she needed.

“So, I started going to pin-trading meetings where I started collecting everything I didn’t have for the table,” she said. “I realized how many hardcore Disney fans there are out there.”

Once the table started getting bigger, Weatherspoon decided she needed to go to a “proper” mosaic class. Her teacher told her she had done “everything wrong.”

“I ripped up and put together that table three times to make it look just right,” she said.

By the time she was done with it, three years had passed. She had spent at least 1,200 hours and about $3,000 in materials. Sure enough, it won first place and Best of Show in the glass and mosaic category at the fair this year.

Something out of nothing

Brindel Rothspan’s idea originated in the morning coffee club at the senior community in Huntington Beach where she lives. She was fascinated by the orange, yellow, black and white strings tied around the Register. An avid knitter, Rothspan started collecting the strings in September.

“I collected two balls of strings, but for a while, I didn’t know what I was going to do with it,” she said.

The anticipation grew in her coffee club.

“What did you do with the strings?” her friends asked her as each day passed by.

Rothspan didn’t know. She knitted with the strings she had. She smiled as the patterns unfolded before her eyes.

In the end, she had a purse in her hands. That item won second place in the recycled items category at the fair.

All three women said they enjoy their crafts. It gives them immense satisfaction, peace and a sense of accomplishment.

“It’s all about making something out of nothing,” says Rothspan. “Strings…who would have thought?”

Deepa Bharath covers religion for The Orange County Register and the Southern California Newspaper Group. Her work is focused on how religion, race and ethnicity shape our understanding of what it is to be American and how religion in particular helps influence public policies, laws and a region's culture. Deepa also writes about race, cultures and social justice issues. She has covered a number of other beats ranging from city government to breaking news for the Register since May 2006. She has received fellowships from the International Women's Media Foundation and the International Center for Journalists to report stories about reconciliation, counter-extremism and peace-building efforts around the world. When she is not working, she loves listening to Indian classical music and traveling with her husband and son.

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